India's school meals boost children's growth for generations, study finds

A new study by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) reveals long-term benefits of India’s school feeding programme. Women who received free meals in primary school now have children with better linear growth. The findings highlight the lasting impact of early nutrition interventions. The study, titled Intergenerational nutrition benefits of India's national school feeding program, was published in Nature Communications. It was co-authored by Harold Alderman, Suman Chakrabarti, Samuel Scott, Purnima Menon, and Daniel Gilligan.

Researchers used nationally representative data on mothers and their children from 1993 to 2016. They found that investments in school meals during past decades improved future child growth. The study suggests that providing meals during primary school years can reduce stunting in the next generation.

India has the world’s largest school feeding programme, the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme, as well as the highest number of undernourished children. Until now, the long-term nutritional benefits of the MDM scheme were unknown. The study also notes that school meals may support education, influence later fertility decisions, and improve access to healthcare. The research shows that free school meals in India have measurable, intergenerational effects on child growth. These findings provide evidence that early nutrition programmes can break cycles of undernutrition. IFPRI continues to seek sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty worldwide.